GENERAL SANTOS CITY (PIA) -- The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) Sarangani Provincial Office presented its report on the latest trend of inflation in Sarangani and General Santos City in a press conference Tuesday (Oct. 11).

It said that inflation in General Santos slowed down by 0.2% that is from 7.9% in August this year to 7.7% in September.

Such number, however, is still higher than the regional and national inflation rates pegged at 7.0% and 6.9%, respectively.

Ismael Ramos Jr., chief statistical specialist said "the main source in the downward trend of the city's inflation was the slower annual growth rate in the indices of housing, electricity, gas, and other fuels with 6.6% inflation from 7.6% in August 2022."

This also included transport with 20.2% in September from 21.2% in August.

Meanwhile, Sarangani’s headline inflation rate climbed to 8.4% in September from 7.4% in August of this year, the highest inflation recorded for the year, PSA reported.

This upward trend, according to Marifi de Asis, PSA Sarangani supervising statistical specialist, was caused by the higher annual growth in food and non-alcoholic beverages index which is at 11.5% in September from 9.0% in August.

Other contributors to rising inflation in Sarangani include higher annual increments in other indices such as personal care and miscellaneous goods and services, 2.8%; alcoholic beverages and tobacco, 12.1%; furnishings, household equipment, routine household maintenance, 3.2%; and recreation, sport and culture, 3.1%.

PSA has ramped up its information drive on inflation, ensuring that its efforts will reach the majority of people and help them understand the effects of inflation.

In August, PSA conducted its first face-to-face inflation report via a press conference, as it vowed to undertake a monthly briefing on the topic to keep the people abreast of the situation and enable them to make an informed decision.

The activity also formed part of PSA’s 33rd National Statistics Month (NSM) celebration this October with the theme, “Boosting the Country’s Recovery with Informed Decisions, Better Policies.”

Aside from Ramos and De Asis, other reseource speakers during the press conference were Deputy Director Felicitas Concha of Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas-General Santos along with Zarina Aligsao, and representative from General Santos City Agriculture Office Joel Mascardo.

For its NSM celebration, PSA Sarangani has lined up various activities which include hanging of streamers, infographics training workshop for senior high school, statistics quiz for junior and senior high schools, mall, FRC and virtual exhibits, and contest on poster making, impromptu speech, essay writing, among others, said statistical specialist Carla Fusilero. (CTA/PIA SarGen)